Construction of coffins



Apr. 11, 1923. HASZMZQ S. H. DEUEL CONSTRUCTION OF COFFINS Filed Sept.30 1922 HHHI U I @nnni Fatented Apr. 17, 1923.

SANFORD HOYT DEUEL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CONSTRUCTION OF COFFINS.

Application filed September 30, 1922. Serial No. 591,630.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SANFORD HoY'r DEUEL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county ofAlameda and State of California, have invented a new andusefullmproveinent in the Construction of Coflins, of which thefollowing is a specification and which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to cofiins for deceased persons and particularlyto a method of making them less commercial, and more personal inidentifying'them closely with the deceased through the use of anilluminated insignia. panel carrying the deceaseds religious orfraternal emblem, or other insignia or design which the family maydesire to bring to the attention of friends during the obsequies. Theprincipal result clesired being to have the insignia glow on the coilinwith a diffused light during the entire ceremony and be visible in thesubdued lighting attendant such functions.

I achieve the result mentioned by the coffin construction shown in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a cofiin witha portion of the lid broken away to show the insignia panel and portableelectric flash lamp for illuminating it. Figure 2 is a'plan view of apart of Figure 1 showing a fraternal design upon the panel.

Figure 3 shows a transparent religious design afiixed to an opaquepanel, interchangeable with the panel shown in Fig.

' ure 2.

' Figure 4 is a plan view of a coffin lid fitted with a glassilluminated religious design fixed permanently in place.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure l showing in section thearrangement of parts making the device operative.

In Figure 1 a coffin 1 is shown in side elevation with a lid 2 in placeupon it. In some coffins the lid has a viewing door at the head end asindicated at Just below this door the lid is shown broken away to showmy insignia panel and illuminating arran ement.

A thin metal frame 4 is inserted into an opening through the lid andheld in place by friction against it or through means of dependingspring tongues as indicated at 5. The frame 4 carries two sheets ofglass, 6 and 7, and between them a printed, colored, or cut-out designor insignia sheet 8.

The outer sheet of glass 6 is usually of artistic, tinted, or cathedralglass so as to soften or modify the design or light coming therethrough,and is usually conformed to the curve of the coffin lid when the cofiinlid is curved. The design sheet 8 is sometimes pasted to the inside ofglass 6 or simply laid between the two sheets of glass. If pasted tosheet 6, sheet 7 may bedispensed with.

The frame 4 has a continuous edge overlapping the coffin lid as shownand also one projecting inwardly overlapping the glass. Under the glassthe frame has a series of prongs 9 which may be bent up against theinner glass to secure the glass sheets and design sheet in place, sothat they may all be lifted out with the frame as a unit.

Under the insignia panel, and secured to the coffin lid, is a sheetmetal reflector 10 spaced from the panel as shown, and at 11 is aregular pocket electric flash lamp positioned in a pocket 12 in the lidand held in place by the spring clip 13. This lamp is readily' insertedor removed by lifting out the insignia panel frame 4 as it is notaccessible from inside of the cofhn lid as the panel, lamp and reflectorare all concealed by the shirred upholstery lining 15, such a spaced orloose lining being common to coffin lids.

flhe reflector may be corrugated very finely at 16 to properly diffusethe light of the lamp and also to project it at the proper angle outwardthrough the insignia panel, or the corrugated portion may be separatelylaid on a supporting sheet as shown.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a portion of the lid of the coffin shownin Figure 1 and makes clear the arrangement of the parts just described,the same being sim ilarly numbered.

At 17 is shown thumb depressions in the lid of the coffin at the side ofthe frame for lifting it out, either for adjusting or inserting thelamp, or the insignia sheet.

Of course it is evident without a detailed drawing that the design orinsignia may be embodied in the glass if desired, such as leaded glass,stained glass, etc., but the separate design sheet makes it easy to meetany special requirement of design.

Figure 3 shows an opaque panel 18 with a religious emblem of mouldedglass 19 inserted in it. This panel is adapted to be placed in the frame4 of Figure 1 in place of the glasses, etc, and is but one example ofthrough the lid 2' and held by the spring clip 13 secured to a plate 22covering the hole.

This, plate 22 is preferably the usual engraved coflin plate. The otherparts shown arev as described for Figure 1 and. likewise all areconcealed by the coflin lid drapery lining 15. I use the standard pocketelectric flash 1 lamp as a source of illumination on account of itsespecial adaptability, convenience, and the fact that it will burncontinuously for a dozen hours or more, which is'long enough for thepurpose intended, though of course any other form of'e-lectric or otherlighting is intended to be covered in some of my claims. I i

Note, that in using the words insignia, design, or lighttransmittingdevice, etc., in my claims I wish to embrace any fraternalor'other design, a cross or other religious emblem or design. or aprayer, or picture, or any other device desired to be placed. on thepanel or inserted in the coflin lid in accordance with this invention.

1. In a coflin, a lid, an opening through said lid, a frame fittingtherein, a sheet of glass in said frame, a light modifying design on oneside of said glass, a portable electric lamp and a reflector beneathsaid lid arranged to throw light from the lamp through the design.

2. In a coflin, a lid, a light transmitting design set therein, adrapery lining secured to the lid, an electric lamp positioned betweensaid lining and said lid, and a reflector between said design and saidlining adapted to reflect light from said lamp through said design.

3. In a coflin, a lid, an opening therethrough, a removable framefitting said opening, a light transmitting design carried by said frame,a corrugated reflector disposed in a substantially horizontal positionbeneath said design and spaced therefrom, a portable electric lampdetachably secured to the inside of the lid and arranged to throw lighton said reflector for transmitting through said designf ii i l 4:. In acoflin, a lid, a drapery lining within said lid, a light transmittinginsignia set in said lid. an electric lamp. detachably secured to theinside of the lid between said lining and said lid, a reflector arrangedbetween said lining and said insignia and spaced therefrom and adaptedto receive light from said lamp and reflect it through said insignia.

5. In a coflin, a lid, an opening therethrough with a light transmittingdesign d therein, a lining secured to the lid, anda lamp positionedbetween said lining and said lid arranged to throw light through saiddesign. i

6. In a coflin, a lid, a light transmitting design set therein. anelectric flash lamp arranged under said lid, means for reflecting lightfrom said lamp through said design, and means concealing the aboveelements from being seen from the'under side of the lid when same isopen.

7 .In acoflin, a lid, a light transmitting design set therein, a lampunder said lid arranged to shed light through said 'design, and'meansconcealing the above elements from being seen from the under sideoit'thelid when same is open.

8. In a coffin, a lid, a viewingpanel therein, an opening through thelid adjacent said viewing panel, a light transmittingldesign in saidopening, a lamp concealed'by said lid, and a reflector arranged toreflect' light from said lamp through said design.

9. In a coffin, a lid, an'openi'ng there.- through, a lighttransmittingdesign. therein, an electric flash lamp concealed under saidlid, and a reflector arranged to reflect lightfrom said lamp throughsaid design.

10. In a coffin, an opening.therethrough, a light transmittingdesignt-herein, a self contained temporary source of illumination withinsaid 'coflin arranged to illuminate said design from within said coflinfor a limited length of time. I

11. In a coflin, a recessed lid, a light transmitting design in anopening therethrough, a source of light wit-hin the recess adapted toilluminate the design from within the lid, and allining extendingacross. the recess. be tween the above elements andfthe lower .partotthe coffin. I

iSANFORD HOYT DE-UEL.

